Before leaving the laboratory, Tang Ming used his poison skills to modify the poisonous gas inside.
Even if the Ming Group activated the gas elimination system, they wouldn’t be able to remove the poison he left behind. His poison was so potent that even gas masks and protective suits couldn’t block it!
The people from the Ming Group had no way to start the laboratory’s purification system, so he wasn’t worried about them seizing the lab.
To make the Ming Group give up, Tang Ming left an empty laboratory for them to study, confident that no one could deal with his poison.
After the Ming Group suffered heavy casualties, they naturally wouldn’t dare think about the lab anymore. He could then send people from the Poison Sect with the antidote to take over the lab.
Having prepared in advance, Tang Ming didn’t bother with the lab’s situation. After a good al and drink, he returned to the Su Family to say goodbye to Su Xiaoxi, having already celebrated the New Year with her family. It was almost ti to return to Songlan City.
Once back at the Su Family, Tang Ming was harshly criticized by Su Xiaoxi and then dragged to the study to et the old master of the Su Family.
Su Xiaoxi led Tang Ming into the study and greeted the old master, who was reading: "Grandfather, Tang Xin is back."
"Oh."
The old master raised his head and looked at Tang Xin with interest: "I thought you’d et with friends from the Dark Group, but I didn’t expect you to cause such a commotion. You’re indeed a handful."
"You knew, huh?"
Tang Ming touched his chin, embarrassed, looking at the old master.
"The Lin Family and the Dark Group were searching for you and Lin Xue on a large scale, almost clashing with the Ming Group. It’s hard for not to know."
The old master smiled and sighed: "There’s turmoil below, and we old folks haven’t been idle. The Lin Family is determined; if anything happens to Lin Xue, then the Imperial City will be in chaos."
"Is it that serious?"
Tang Ming was a bit surprised, not expecting his issues to cause such a stir.
"It’s not an exaggeration at all."
The old master shook his head, squinting: "Now, the balance among the major families in the Imperial City is just maintained. If one makes a move, it will trigger a chain reaction. You’ve certainly stirred many people’s concerns."
"Haha, the Lin Family is interested in Lin Xue; it has nothing to do with !"
Tang Ming awkwardly smiled, reluctant to take on that bla.
"No matter what, it’s good that you returned safely."
The old master nodded, gesturing for Tang Ming to sit across from the desk, "Xiaoxi, you step out first, I want to have a chat with Tang Xin."
"What do you need to say that I can’t hear?"
Su Xiaoxi pouted in dissatisfaction.
"It’s sothing you girls shouldn’t ddle in. Go and brew so good tea for and your fiancé."
The old master commanded sternly.
"Fine, fine."
Though reluctant, Su Xiaoxi obediently left the study, seeing the old master’s seriousness.
"Old master, what do you have in mind?"
Tang Ming looked cautiously at the old master, sensing sothing ominous.
"Haha, as my granddaughter’s fiancé, is there a need to be so afraid of ?"
The old master laughed humorlessly, then sincerely invited, "Tang Xin, as Xiaoxi’s fiancé, why not stay with the Su Family for the Lantern Festival?"
"No way, it’s only the third day of the New Year, and there’s more than ten days until the Lantern Festival."
Tang Ming shook his head repeatedly, with many matters to handle in Songlan City. Liu ngting and Li Xiaoli were waiting for his return. If he stayed until the Lantern Festival, the two of them would surely cause a fuss, and it would be botherso.
Hearing this, the old master frowned, surprised to see his warm invitation rejected.
"Old master, do you have sothing you want to do?"
Tang Ming looked at the old master uncertainly: "I’m not an official person. If you have sothing to say, just say it directly; don’t make it so profound, I won’t grasp it."
"Hahaha."
The old master laughed heartily, saying with delight: "I like your straightforward nature."
"So there is sothing, indeed."
Seeing the situation, Tang Ming suddenly understood.
"If so, then I’ll be direct."
The old master sat up straight, speaking gravely: "The triennial martial arts competition of the nine families is approaching. I want you to represent the Su Family in the competition."
"Martial arts competition of the nine families? What’s that?"
Tang Ming blinked, looking confused.
"Simply put, it’s a competition among the major families of the Imperial City to decide the direction of urban martial arts for the future. The winning family can dictate the allocation of martial arts and comrcial resources in the mortal world for the following three years." The old master explained slowly.
"That’s a big deal!"
Tang Ming was slightly taken aback, then shook his head: "But I’m not interested in the division of martial arts and comrcial resources in the mortal world, best not to participate."
"You’re overthinking it."
The old master rolled his eyes at Tang Ming, explaining patiently: "The situation of the Imperial City influences the direction of the dostic mortal world’s martial arts forces. The nine families control martial arts and comrcial resources nationwide. In the competition, they send young disciples within their factions. Even if a family disciple wins, the future direction is decided by the family, not the participant."
"What do you an? It sounds complicated, I don’t get it."
Tang Ming shook his head, bewildered, as he was always uninterested in official matters.
"Simply put, the nine families are divided into three major factions. Using the Ming Group and Dark Group as examples, each organization has a family backing them as the leading faction. There’s also a neutral faction, but now even the neutral faction is leaning towards the Ming Group. If the forces behind the Ming Group win in the martial arts competition, they gain the right to decide the inclination of martial arts and comrcial resources in the mortal world for the next three years. Conversely, if the families behind the Dark Group win, it’s the sa."
The old master explained in simple terms, speaking gravely: "Never underestimate the power of these three years. Whichever faction wins will vigorously allocate benefits to their faction, while others will be suppressed."
"I see, so the Ming Group’s dominance now is because their backing families have won previous martial arts competitions?"
Tang Ming looked at the old master, unsure.
"Fifteen years ago, the Dark Group faction’s experts lost to the Ming Group due to an error. The Ming Group faction has won five consecutive tis since then."
The old master sighed helplessly: "Otherwise, do you think why the Ming Group’s power is much stronger than the Dark Group? It’s because resources have been biased toward the Ming Group over the decades, creating a vicious cycle. The winner gains more resources and becos stronger, while the loser, unless they can raise a remarkable talent not reliant on organizational resources, will remain suppressed."
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